Thermoformed packaging

Uses reported include motor housings for portable fans, food blender bases, tape storage housings, tough, clear toys, injection blow moulded products and thermoformed packages. 

Thermoform Packaging Product Development Design Container Label Printing Biodegradable Plastics... 

North American Thermoformers (Packaging Industrial End Markets), PN, Feb. 10,2003. 

Synthetic biodegradable polyesters are used mainly as specialty materials for paper coating, fibres, and garbage bags and sacks. They are also showing up in thermoformed packaging as functional adjuncts to lower-cost biodegradable materials. 

For rigid thermoformed packaging, the stiffness of PLA enables more efficient down gauging versus existing PET materials. PLA is also an alternative to traditional plastic films such as cellophane, cellulose acetate and glassine, as well as a low temperature heat seal layer and/or flavour and aroma barrier in co-extruded structures where its combination of properties allows layer simplification or replacement of specific layers. 

Synthetic biodegradable polymers are also finding a growing number of applications in thermoformed packaging, usually to provide a moisture barrier layer to lower-cost biodegradable materials. 

Fgerch Plast is an extruder of film and thermoforms packaging. Packaging is made from PS, CPET, APET, PP and PLA plastics. Principal end use sectors served are ready meals, fresh meat, cold food, snacks and disposables. 

Expanded polystyrene (EPS) articles are made using high impact polystyrene formulations with incorporation of a blowing agent (this is usually a volatile solvent such as pentane). Often, EPS containers will have a crystal polystyrene skin applied to the food contact surface to act as a barrier between food and container. Applications of EPS include thermoformed packaging for eggs, meat, fish and fast food trays. Substances typically used in the manufacture of polystyrene are given in Table 10.3. 

Film and sheet are the major forms in which PE is used, including shrink/stretch film, food packaging, pouches, and blown-film bags and liners. In North America, PE is by far the most-used film/sheet plastic material followed by PP. For shrink/stretch film in the United States, for example, over 75% is LDPE, rather than PVC. PE film and sheet also sees significant use in industrial thermoforming applications, as does PP for thermoformed packaging [2-19, 2-20]. 

Polystyrene Mass-produced transparent articles, thermoformed packaging, etc. Thermal insulation (foamed), etc... 

Unplasticized polyvinyl chloride Tubes, window frames, siding, rain gutters, bottles, thermoformed packaging, etc. 

Most ionomers have good dielectric characteristics over a broad frequency range. The combination of these electrical properties, high melt strength, and abrasion resistance qnalihes these materials for insulation and jacketing of wire and cable. Their excellent mechanical and optical properties make them especially useful for thermoformed packaging and abrasion- and impact-resistant parts. 

P. J. Mooney, Understanding the Thermoforming Packaging Business, Plastics Custom Research Services, Advance, N.C., 2002. 

Polypropylene films are used in a variety of packaging applications. Both oriented and non-oriented films are used. Film tapes are used for carpet backing and sacks. Foamed sheet is used in a variety of applications including thermoformed packaging. Fibers are another important apphcation for polypropylene, particularly in carpeting, because of its low cost and wear resistance. Fibers prepared from polypropylene are used in both woven and nonwoven fabrics. 

Mooney PJ. Information extrapolated from understanding the thermoformed packaging business. Plastics Custom Research Services. NC, USA Advance 2002. 

Bopp RC, Whelan J. On improving the heat resistance of NatureWorks Ingeo polylactide biopolymer in thermoformed packaging applications. SPE ANTEC. Milwaukee 2008. 

Novamont has been developing thermoplastic starch based polymers since 1990. Mater-Bi polymers are based on thermoplastic starch-blend technologies and product apphcations include biodegradable mulch films and bags, thermoformed packaging products, injection moulded items, personal hygiene items and packaging foam, [http //www.novamont.com/]... 

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